Fishing Alone 2024
Mudrider34 reply :
now that hunting season is over im really wanting to start fishing a lot more. however I have reservations about launching and being on my boat alone, I bank fish alone at times but a lot more can go wrong while on a boat. I always tell someone where I will be going and if alone stay relative close to home. do any of yall go out on your boat alone? what all safety things do yall do? or do yall always have someone with you? thanks in advance!
RSM789 reply :
99% of my fishing in my boat is alone. However, the lake I fish is 12 feet at the deepest and is surrounded by homes. If my boat sunk, I would most likely be able to walk out of the lake into someone's backyard & ask for some help...
Turtle135 reply :
I probably fish alone from my kayak about 95% of the time. Been doing so since 1991. The one thing experience gives you is awareness of a bad situation brewing (usually weather related). Get in the habit of watching the weather forecast and being aware of the clues mother nature gives you. Keeping close to home is a good idea. Most times there is good fishing closer to the ramp if you slow down and work over and area.
scaleface reply :
I fish alone most of the time. I just dont worry about what could happen. I even anchor on the Mississippi river above dikes by myself. I do wear the pfd .
tnriverluver reply :
I fish alone 100% of the time except for having my dog with me. I let the wife know which body of water I am fishing in case I don't come home. Figure it will save search and rescue a lot of effort knowing which lake to drag.
slonezp reply :
I fish alone 80% of the time. The more time you have launching and retrieving the boat alone and the more time behind the helm, the easier it will get. Keep the fuel tank full and batteries charged. Wear your life jacket. WEAR THE LANYARD FOR THE KILL SWITCH, and keep a waterproof bag with TP and a lighter in the boat. I go overkill. I have flares, first aid kit, tool kit, battery jump box, rain gear, rope, 2 anchors, empty coffee can to bail water(actually a pee bucket for my dad) sunscreen, bug spray and bottled water. Better safe than sorry.
Mudrider34 reply :
Slonezp I didn't even think of carrying a lighter and tp in a bag. That's definitely going in the boat thanks guys! I launch and recover alone most of the time as the wife don't know how to back a trailer or drive a boat
Sam reply :
I fish alone as much as possible.
Always leave your "float plan" at home or with a friend.
Just wear your PFD and don't do anything stupid.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I like fishing alone sometimes because I can try something that I'm not sure is going to work without having to worry about someone else being disappointed if we don't catch fish. I guess I'm not really ever completely alone, I always have my dog with me.
KDW96 reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 12:47 PM, slonezp said:I fish alone 80% of the time. The more time you have launching and retrieving the boat alone and the more time behind the helm, the easier it will get. Keep the fuel tank full and batteries charged. Wear your life jacket. WEAR THE LANYARD FOR THE KILL SWITCH, and keep a waterproof bag with TP and a lighter in the boat. I go overkill. I have flares, first aid kit, tool kit, battery jump box, rain gear, rope, 2 anchors, empty coffee can to bail water(actually a pee bucket for my dad) sunscreen, bug spray and bottled water. Better safe than sorry.
Better safe than sorry.....
On 1/15/2015 at 1:56 PM, Sam said:I fish alone as much as possible.
Always leave your "float plan" at home or with a friend.
Just wear your PFD and don't do anything stupid.
Dont do anything stupid.
Make a checklist of things that MUST be in the boat,and a list of just in case stuff like the posts above. Always check the drain plug and have a extra. If you got bad weather coming,its time to go. Carry a small weather radio,small tool kit with electrical tape,firstaid kit. And take your time launching your boat,out on the water,and loading the boat. You will get better the more you do it. Use the same common scense appraoach in hunting,have faith in yourself and youll be just fine..KDW96
WIGuide reply :
I fish by myself pretty often and have been since I was a little kid. Don't do anything stupid when you're out there and wear a PDF.
Thornback reply :
Safety first. I only fish alone 10% of my trips. I'm retired and have several retired friends who like to fish but they have a hard time committing several days in advance. They want to wait until the day before to say they can go and that drives me crazy. For safety precautions I always leave a note on the fridge where I'll be fishing. Everyone puts on a PFD before stepping into my boat. I make sure I have extra gas, batteries charged, cell phone, food and drinks. I also store in my boat a first aid kit, ropes, water-proof container, and I'm never out of site of land. When fishing alone I avoid heavy vegetation, skinny water, and stump fields. My wife doesn't like me going fishing alone but I tell her at my age it's better to drown quickly than waste away for months in a nursing home.
Catch and Grease reply :
I fish alone a lot too, but like someone mentioned about their lake earlier the lake I fish is shallow and filled with trees so I could ethier stand up or hug a tree if I happen to get tossed out of the boat.
I try to wear my PFD when I'm using the gas motor but I don't wear it other than that honestly...
Fishes in trees reply :
I generally fish alone. Sometimes me and a bud will go fishing at the same lake, but we will both take our own boats. The primary rule about fishing by yourself is don't do anything stupid.. I always wear my inflatable life jacket. Back when I first got my boat, I took one afternoon ( in 85 degree water) jumping out of the boat and practicing getting back in it. That little exercise paid off once, i.e. the time I was fishing in 15 mph+ winds in March in 45 degree water, I hit a stump and went over the side. I remembered how to get back into the boat and it wasn't a big deal. Launchng & loading your boat by yourself is just a matter of practice. I try to confine my fishing to lakes that have decent ramps.
BaitMonkey1984 reply :
I fish alone about half the time. I like to fish with friends/family but I simply like to fish much more often than them, so when no one wants to go, I go alone. I have no issue with fishing solo and now have gotten used to it, and I produce more fish then when fishing with others. However, obviously it can be a lot more fun fishing with friends and your father.
For safety just make sure someone knows what body of water you are on. If you are nervous about falling overboard I would say use your PDF when making runs and always utilize the engine kill switch. Wear your PDF all the time in cold water. Have a paddle, a workign flashlight, a container to bail. Also, if you are older/not physically in shape/ or fishing colder water some manner to get back in the boat should you fall out. It is harder than it looks to get back into the boat, and whether you want to believe it or not it is going to eventually happen.
K_Mac reply :
I fish alone often, though not as often in cold weather. Being prepared is absolutely critical. Unless your lake is about the same size as a bathtub fishing alone without wearing a pfd, especially in cold water, is just dumb. I lost a very good friend doing so a few years ago. Having a dry change of clothes in the boat could save you if things do go bad, and Murphy predicts things will go bad in direct proportion to how unprepared you are.
KritterGitter reply :
On the subject...
http://abcnews.go.com/US/miami-dolphin-player-remains-hospital-falling-boat-off/story?id=28137109
RSM789 reply :
On 1/15/2015 at 12:47 PM, slonezp said:...empty coffee can to bail water(actually a pee bucket for my dad)...
I have had people ask why I don't get rid of the wide-neck Gatorade bottle, not realizing that it too does double duty. Cool thing with it during the warmer months is that the entire bottle can easily slide up your pants leg of any shorts or bathing suit, so you avoid any chance of being labeled a flasher 
HoosierHawgs reply :
On 1/17/2015 at 2:23 AM, KritterGitter said:On the subject...
http://abcnews.go.com/US/miami-dolphin-player-remains-hospital-falling-boat-off/story?id=28137109
That's crazy. Hopefully he can make it through ok.
atcoha reply :
I will shore fish alone, used to all the time. I always fish with someone else when I fish in the bays/ICW, either a friend or my son. I have fished on my jon boat alone, yes, it can be relaxing and stress free, and give me more time to try different stuff...I don't have near as much fun without one of my kids with me!
Just in the past month in my area, 2 guys went missing in the bay while on their kayak, found 1 guy(washed up), not the other...
I don't want to be in that situation. For you guys that boat alone, be careful!
Bomber7 reply :
I fish alone pretty much 100% of the time ... well I only have an 8 foot pond boat - so not much room for others. I have it equipped with all the required safety gear ... I don't always wear my life jacket when I'm tied up fishing or working a shore line for bass but its right there with me along with my throw cushion. If I'm in deeper water I'll wear it. I only fish no wake lakes in my area (there are several) - most of the time I'm close to the shore or in the flooded timber, so if I fell overboard there would be a tree to grab onto. This year my plan is to get one of the Co2 jackets - those seem more comfortable to wear all day fishing - they are expensive but one's life has no price tag right?
Anyway like many stated here let someone know where you will be fishing (like my wife would know where these lakes are lol) but at least I try and don't do anything stupid.
Thornback reply :
On 1/17/2015 at 11:35 PM, Bomber7 said:I fish alone pretty much 100% of the time ..This year my plan is to get one of the Co2 jackets - those seem more comfortable to wear all day fishing - they are expensive but one's life has no price tag right?
Go get one today!!! I keep three in my boat and no one gets in my boat without one on. You are right about being comfortable. Never know it's on. Sometimes when I return to the ramp I almost forget to remove it.
Bomber7 reply :
On 1/17/2015 at 11:53 PM, Thornback said:Go get one today!!! I keep three in my boat and no one gets in my boat without one on. You are right about being comfortable. Never know it's on. Sometimes when I return to the ramp I almost forget to remove it.
Thanks Thornback - I've been looking at them - do you have any you recommend - I'm a big guy so I like to have something that is comfortable but does the job ... you know in case I stink to the bottom lol 
Don't have to get one right now cause all our lakes here have that hard water on them so I have time before they thaw - plus now I'm moving from the deer season mode to turkey season mode .... fishing of course fits in there too but like I said lakes are frozen over and this guy doesn't go out cut a hole in the ice put a heater in a shack and hope a fish swims by your bait LOL 
Thornback reply :
My three were ordered from Bass Pro Shop. You raise a good point as I have a friend who is 6'4" 280 and it is tight on him. Being a large man, If you can, you may want to try several on before making the purchase. You certainly want one that fits comfy.
cyclops2 reply :
In the boats I TIE MYSELF to it. So if I fall out ? It does not leave me to die. My fault I am too lazy to tie myself to it
Long Mike reply :
On 1/16/2015 at 12:16 AM, Fishes in trees said:I generally fish alone. Sometimes me and a bud will go fishing at the same lake, but we will both take our own boats. The primary rule about fishing by yourself is don't do anything stupid.. I always wear my inflatable life jacket. Back when I first got my boat, I took one afternoon ( in 85 degree water) jumping out of the boat and practicing getting back in it. That little exercise paid off once, i.e. the time I was fishing in 15 mph+ winds in March in 45 degree water, I hit a stump and went over the side. I remembered how to get back into the boat and it wasn't a big deal. Launchng & loading your boat by yourself is just a matter of practice. I try to confine my fishing to lakes that have decent ramps.
In the anticipation of on-rushing old age (I'm 68) I installed a swing-down ladder on the back of my boat several years ago. I wear my PFD only when the big motor is running, so your post caught my attention. Not once have I ever practiced getting back into the boat using that ladder. Come warm weather, that task will be very high on my agenda. Thanks for the heads-up.
HoosierHawgs reply :
I plan on doing a similar exercise with my kayak. I will purposefully flip it over and practice turning it back and getting inside. This has been quite the helpful thread!On 1/18/2015 at 9:26 AM, Long Mike said:In the anticipation of on-rushing old age (I'm 68) I installed a swing-down ladder on the back of my boat several years ago. I wear my PFD only when the big motor is running, so your post caught my attention. Not once have I ever practiced getting back into the boat using that ladder. Come warm weather, that task will be very high on my agenda. Thanks for the heads-up.
Mudrider34 reply :
I agree with u Jakob this is a very helpful thread. Thanks for all the input guys!
Thornback reply :
Wear that PFD -- the life you save may be your own.
carlm01 reply :
I really think it depends on where your fishing , Up north we have to worry about water temps early on...Down south I would assume there's different issues ... I wear my pdf and keep my cell phone handy
slonezp reply :
This is why you wear your kill switch lanyard. You get thrown out and chances are you're gonna get hit or someone else will
A-Jay reply :
On 1/19/2015 at 1:14 AM, slonezp said:This is why you wear your kill switch lanyard. You get thrown out and chances are you're gonna get hit or someone else will
I've had to do that a few times. Twice there was a human who had collapsed still in the boat.
It's a lot easier to do when there are no occupants.
A-Jay
cyclops2 reply :
Those tiller controlled obs are really death traps, IF the kill switch is not tied on to you & working. I converted my 16 ' fisher to a center control just to get far enough away from the prop, if I go over the side. I have had freighter wakes 4 to 5' take shots at me in that little boat It does clean out the floorboards.
Bluegiller reply :
I fish alone most times. Keep your cell phone in a ziplock bag in case of a quick dump in the drink.
cyclops2 reply :
That's what I ALWAYS HAVE in my left front pocket. I use the storage bags with a double zipper. My wife can understand me talking thru the plastic.
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